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8-K - CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES - ARCBEST CORP /DE/a11-28738_18k.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION ANNOUNCES

THIRD QUARTER 2011 NET INCOME OF $0.46/SHARE

 

(Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 28, 2011) — Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS) today announced third quarter 2011 net income of $12.3 million, or $0.46 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.7 million, or $0.03 per share in the third quarter of 2010.

 

Arkansas Best’s third quarter 2011 performance reflects strong improvement from its largest subsidiary, ABF Freight System, Inc.  ABF produced healthy revenue and profit growth that resulted from improved account pricing in the midst of moderating tonnage levels.  ABF improved its third quarter operating ratio by four and a half operating points versus the same period last year and by over two operating points versus this year’s second quarter.

 

“We are pleased to report another quarter of profitability resulting from the value and superior service that ABF offers in the marketplace.  The ABF team is to be congratulated for producing better results in the face of an uncertain economic environment,” said Judy R. McReynolds, Arkansas Best President and Chief Executive Officer.  “In looking ahead, we are prepared to appropriately adjust resources to business levels while maintaining a high level of service for our customers.  Our blend of investments in people and technology as well as the unique logistics services provided to our customers put us in a good position as we cultivate opportunities for future growth and new offerings.”

 

Arkansas Best Corporation

 

Third Quarter 2011

 

·                Revenue of $510.9 million, a per day increase of 14.7% from the prior year third quarter revenue of $445.5 million

 

·                Net income of $0.46 per share compared to a net loss of $0.03 per share in the prior year third quarter

 

·                Includes market losses on the cash surrender value of life insurance of $0.05 per share compared to gains of $0.06 per share in the prior year period

 



 

ABF Freight System, Inc.®

 

Third Quarter 2011

 

·                  Revenue of $466.3 million compared to $409.9 million in third quarter 2010, a per-day increase of 13.8%

 

·                  Tonnage per day decrease of 2.0% versus third quarter 2010

 

·                  Total billed revenue per hundredweight of $27.10 compared to $23.38 in third quarter 2010, an increase of 15.9%, including increases in fuel surcharge

 

·                  Operating income of $18.3 million compared to an operating loss of $2.6 million in third quarter 2010

 

·                  Operating ratio of 96.1% compared to 100.6% in third quarter 2010

 

“Since March of this year, ABF’s year-over-year change in monthly tonnage has moderated, and beginning in August, tonnage has been below that of the same period last year.  So far in October, ABF’s tonnage is lower than last October by between six and seven percent, but because of greatly improved yields, ABF revenues continue to be ahead of the same period last year by approximately 5%.  We attribute the tonnage decline to weakening economic conditions, our efforts to improve account pricing and more difficult comparisons from last year,” said Ms. McReynolds.  “Despite the softening in ABF’s freight, our pricing levels have improved significantly from recent recessionary levels.  We constantly strive to grow ABF’s business with accounts that value our wide range of services.  As a result, ABF’s overall group of accounts offers a better mix of business with yields that have contributed to the improved profitability we’ve experienced during the last two quarters.”

 

“ABF continues to focus on making investments in resources and personnel that strengthen the positive experience of our customers while improving our operational efficiencies,” said Ms. McReynolds.  “In the third quarter, ABF and its exceptional employees were recognized and honored by three national publications, twice for excellence in information technology and once for ABF’s commitment to sustainability.  Two ABF drivers achieved recognition for superior driving achievements, one as a national driving champion.  Earlier this month, ABF earned the American Trucking Associations’ Excellence in Security Award for the sixth time of the 11 times it has been awarded,” said Ms. McReynolds.  “As we move forward, we will continue to build on the strong foundation provided by ABF’s nationwide network and the relationship-forming skills of its well-trained sales force to offer additional services and to take advantage of new growth opportunities.”

 



 

Conference Call

 

Arkansas Best Corporation will host a conference call with company executives to discuss the third quarter 2011 results.  The call will be today, Friday, October 28, at 9:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. CT).  Interested parties are invited to listen by calling (800) 936-4761.  Following the call, a recorded playback will be available through the end of the day on November 30, 2011.  To listen to the playback, dial (800) 633-8284 or (402) 977-9140 (for international callers).  The conference call ID for the playback is 21541622.  The conference call and playback can also be accessed, through November 30, on Arkansas Best’s website at www.arkbest.com.

 

Company Description

 

Arkansas Best Corporation, headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a transportation holding company.  ABF Freight System, Inc., Arkansas Best’s largest subsidiary, has been in continuous service since 1923.  ABF has evolved from a local less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carrier into a global provider of customizable supply chain solutions.  More information is available at www.arkbest.com and www.abf.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements.”  Terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “prospects,” “scheduled,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Such statements are by their nature subject to uncertainties and risk including, but not limited to, recessionary economic conditions; competitive initiatives, pricing pressures and effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates; the impact of any limitations on our customers’ access to adequate financial resources; availability and cost of capital; shifts in market demand; weather conditions; the performance and needs of industries served by Arkansas Best Corporation’s subsidiaries; future costs of operating expenses such as fuel and related taxes; self-insurance claims and insurance premium costs; relationships with employees, including unions; union and non-union employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer pension plans; governmental regulations and policies; future climate change legislation; costs of

 



 

continuing investments in technology; the timing and amount of capital expenditures; the cost, integration and performance of any future acquisitions; and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Arkansas Best Corporation’s Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) public filings.

 

The following tables show financial data and operating statistics on Arkansas Best Corporation and its subsidiary companies.

 



 

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

($ thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING REVENUES

 

$

510,887

 

$

445,531

 

$

1,444,369

 

$

1,216,768

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES AND COSTS

 

489,769

 

447,307

 

1,436,245

 

1,264,619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

 

21,118

 

(1,776

)

8,124

 

(47,851

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and dividend income

 

273

 

313

 

790

 

920

 

Interest expense and other related financing costs

 

(973

)

(853

)

(2,899

)

(1,853

)

Other, net

 

(1,345

)

1,346

 

1,544

 

1,558

 

 

 

(2,045

)

806

 

(565

)

625

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

19,073

 

(970

)

7,559

 

(47,226

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME TAXES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current provision (benefit)

 

7,041

 

(1,864

)

9,432

 

(11,199

)

Deferred provision (benefit)

 

(233

)

1,479

 

(6,802

)

(6,722

)

 

 

6,808

 

(385

)

2,630

 

(17,921

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

12,265

 

(585

)

4,929

 

(29,305

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LESS: NONCONTROLLING INTEREST IN NET INCOME OF SUBSIDIARY

 

 

164

 

174

 

280

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

 

$

12,265

 

$

(749

)

$

4,755

 

$

(29,585

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.46

 

$

(0.03

)

$

0.18

 

$

(1.18

)

Diluted

 

0.46

 

(0.03

)

0.18

 

(1.18

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

25,421,887

 

25,199,123

 

25,388,174

 

25,166,678

 

Diluted

 

25,421,887

 

25,199,123

 

25,388,174

 

25,166,678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE

 

$

0.03

 

$

0.03

 

$

0.09

 

$

0.09

 

 


(1)      The Company uses the two-class method for calculating earnings per share. This method, as calculated below, requires an allocation of dividends paid and a portion of undistributed net income (but not losses) to unvested restricted stock for calculating per share amounts.

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

 

$

12,265

 

$

(749

)

$

4,755

 

$

(29,585

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EFFECT OF UNVESTED RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS(1)

 

(532

)

(21

)

(191

)

(38

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS) FOR CALCULATING EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

 

$

11,733

 

$

(770

)

$

4,564

 

$

(29,623

)

 



 

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

September 30
2011

 

December 31
2010

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Note

 

 

 

($ thousands, except share data)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

137,099

 

$

102,578

 

Short-term investments

 

30,992

 

39,288

 

Restricted cash equivalents and short-term investments

 

52,323

 

51,661

 

Accounts receivable, less allowances (2011 — $6,265; 2010 — $3,944)

 

165,259

 

145,426

 

Other accounts receivable, less allowances (2011 — $1,206; 2010 — $1,254)

 

6,226

 

8,157

 

Prepaid expenses

 

9,114

 

10,258

 

Deferred income taxes

 

37,031

 

32,681

 

Prepaid and refundable income taxes

 

2,106

 

3,958

 

Other

 

5,251

 

5,677

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

445,401

 

399,684

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

 

 

 

 

Land and structures

 

241,310

 

243,981

 

Revenue equipment

 

568,639

 

530,424

 

Service, office and other equipment

 

169,743

 

163,732

 

Leasehold improvements

 

21,258

 

21,890

 

 

 

1,000,950

 

960,027

 

Less allowances for depreciation and amortization

 

590,418

 

552,781

 

 

 

410,532

 

407,246

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

52,439

 

54,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

908,372

 

$

860,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Bank overdraft and drafts payable

 

$

14,631

 

$

13,023

 

Accounts payable

 

74,656

 

62,134

 

Income taxes payable

 

5,787

 

196

 

Accrued expenses

 

156,537

 

144,543

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

21,179

 

14,001

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

272,790

 

233,897

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion

 

45,900

 

42,657

 

PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT LIABILITIES

 

66,907

 

65,421

 

OTHER LIABILITIES

 

13,933

 

19,827

 

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

 

20,045

 

19,405

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 70,000,000 shares; issued 2011: 27,099,819 shares; 2010: 26,934,847 shares

 

271

 

269

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

284,991

 

281,169

 

Retained earnings

 

294,501

 

292,129

 

Treasury stock, at cost, 1,677,932 shares

 

(57,770

)

(57,770

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(33,196

)

(36,053

)

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

488,797

 

479,744

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

908,372

 

$

860,951

 

 

Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2010 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

 



 

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

($ thousands)

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

4,929

 

$

(29,305

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

54,201

 

53,771

 

Other amortization

 

177

 

200

 

Pension settlement expense

 

 

178

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

5,116

 

4,191

 

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

 

2,105

 

453

 

Deferred income tax benefit

 

(6,802

)

(6,722

)

Gain on sale of property and equipment

 

(1,934

)

(142

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

(20,244

)

(31,595

)

Prepaid expenses

 

1,144

 

1,724

 

Other assets

 

2,293

 

659

 

Income taxes

 

8,457

 

18,145

 

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

22,836

 

10,316

 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

72,278

 

21,873

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net of capital leases and notes payable

 

(32,127

)

(4,322

)

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

 

5,678

 

3,393

 

Purchases of short-term investments

 

(27,930

)

(51,065

)

Proceeds from sales of short-term investments

 

36,175

 

99,175

 

Capitalization of internally developed software and other

 

(3,735

)

(3,265

)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

(21,939

)

43,916

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Payments on long-term debt

 

(10,886

)

(5,167

)

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

 

 

11,416

 

Acquisition of noncontrolling interest

 

(4,084

)

 

Net change in bank overdraft and other

 

1,608

 

(10,057

)

Change in restricted cash equivalents and short-term investments

 

(662

)

103

 

Deferred financing costs

 

(174

)

(35

)

Payment of common stock dividends

 

(2,383

)

(2,340

)

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

 

763

 

465

 

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

(15,818

)

(5,615

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

34,521

 

60,174

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

102,578

 

39,332

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

 

$

137,099

 

$

99,506

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Accruals for equipment received

 

$

5,177

 

$

5,896

 

Equipment financed under capital leases and notes payable

 

$

21,307

 

$

21,421

 

 



 

ARKANSAS BEST CORPORATION

FINANCIAL STATEMENT OPERATING SEGMENT DATA

AND OPERATING RATIOS

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

($ thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABF Freight System, Inc.(1)

 

$

466,287

 

 

 

$

409,916

 

 

 

$

1,327,168

 

 

 

$

1,122,384

 

 

 

Other revenues and eliminations

 

44,600

 

 

 

35,615

 

 

 

117,201

 

 

 

94,384

 

 

 

Total consolidated operating revenues

 

$

510,887

 

 

 

$

445,531

 

 

 

$

1,444,369

 

 

 

$

1,216,768

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES AND COSTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABF Freight System, Inc.(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, wages and benefits

 

$

272,038

 

58.3

%

$

259,613

 

63.3

%

$

807,792

 

60.9

%

$

745,037

 

66.4

%

Fuel, supplies and expenses

 

86,570

 

18.6

 

67,045

 

16.4

 

254,292

 

19.2

 

192,686

 

17.2

 

Operating taxes and licenses

 

11,343

 

2.4

 

11,229

 

2.7

 

34,336

 

2.6

 

32,438

 

2.9

 

Insurance

 

5,139

 

1.1

 

4,870

 

1.2

 

18,132

 

1.4

 

14,981

 

1.3

 

Communications and utilities

 

3,779

 

0.8

 

3,830

 

0.9

 

11,490

 

0.9

 

11,008

 

1.0

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

17,540

 

3.8

 

16,992

 

4.2

 

52,160

 

3.9

 

51,698

 

4.6

 

Rents and purchased transportation

 

49,598

 

10.6

 

46,830

 

11.4

 

140,455

 

10.6

 

120,771

 

10.7

 

Gain on sale of property and equipment

 

(1,060

)

(0.2

)

(74

)

 

(1,944

)

(0.1

)

(498

)

 

Other

 

2,997

 

0.7

 

2,141

 

0.5

 

6,547

 

0.3

 

5,101

 

0.4

 

 

 

447,944

 

96.1

%

412,476

 

100.6

%

1,323,260

 

99.7

%

1,173,222

 

104.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other expenses and eliminations

 

41,825

 

 

 

34,831

 

 

 

112,985

 

 

 

91,397

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total consolidated operating expenses and costs

 

$

489,769

 

 

 

$

447,307

 

 

 

$

1,436,245

 

 

 

$

1,264,619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABF Freight System, Inc.(1)

 

$

18,343

 

 

 

$

(2,560

)

 

 

$

3,908

 

 

 

$

(50,838

)

 

 

Other income (loss) and eliminations

 

2,775

 

 

 

784

 

 

 

4,216

 

 

 

2,987

 

 

 

Total consolidated operating income (loss)

 

$

21,118

 

 

 

$

(1,776

)

 

 

$

8,124

 

 

 

$

(47,851

)

 

 

 


(1)  Includes U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican operations of ABF affiliates.

 



 

ABF FREIGHT SYSTEM, INC.

OPERATING STATISTICS

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

% Change

 

2011

 

2010

 

% Change

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workdays

 

64

 

64

 

 

 

191.5

 

190.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billed Revenue (1) / CWT

 

$

27.10

 

$

23.38

 

15.9

%

$

25.70

 

$

23.52

 

9.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billed Revenue (1) / Shipment

 

$

386.25

 

$

340.54

 

13.4

%

$

365.09

 

$

334.56

 

9.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shipments

 

1,203,970

 

1,201,683

 

0.2

%

3,652,776

 

3,366,599

 

8.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shipments / Day

 

18,812

 

18,776

 

0.2

%

19,075

 

17,672

 

7.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonnage (tons)

 

858,048

 

875,156

 

(2.0

)%

2,594,053

 

2,394,510

 

8.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons / Day

 

13,407

 

13,674

 

(2.0

)%

13,546

 

12,570

 

7.8

%

 


(1)      Billed Revenue does not include revenue deferral required for financial statement purposes under the company’s revenue recognition policy.

 

Includes U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican operations of ABF affiliates.

 

Contact:

Mr. David Humphrey, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

 

Telephone: (479) 785-6200

 

END OF RELEASE